Svbony SV202 Binoculars for Adaults, 8x42 High Power Bak4 Roof Prism FMC Large Size Focusing Wheel, Lightweight for Forest Birdwatching Racing Horse Racing Sports Events

I have had a life long interest in wildlife - birds, flowers, insects and mammals. A good pair of binoculars is a very handy tool for professionals and amateurs. I trained as an ecologist and worked in the conservation field at the beginning of my career. I have had a few pairs over the years including optics from the likes of Zeiss and Opticron. The East German Jena offerings were particularly good.So I tried these Sybony 10x42 binoculars. They were on a deal and the reviews seemed broadly favourable. To get ED glass for the price of these binoculars is pretty good going. Now, the pay off is that they are a bit heavier than the pair I had been using but other than that I have found little to complain about. The close focus is great for butterflies and other insects. The light transmission is excellent and so the work well in less favourable lighting conditions. They make scanning a field or woodland floor, for a plant, very easy and are easy to move onto a moving target like a bird or mammal.The case is a bit thin and basic but it does the job well enough. I am keeping mine in their box when they are not out with me and that provided sufficient protection from dust and moisture. The neck strap is comfortable and easy to fit. The lens covers are okay rather than great. My approach is to take the lower one off. The top lens cover may be attached to the strap and, as such, it is easy to use but harder to loose.I suppose for me it comes down to the question of what is reasonable to expect from a pair of binoculars that cost just above the £120 mark. The answer is that these binoculars have exceeded my hopes and expectations. They will not compare to a pair costing £300-400 but you wouldn't expect them to. They punch above their weight and price and are a very good option on a budget. They can certainly worry some of the mid-priced competition. I would recommend them and I would buy another pair, if or when I need them.

I'm no binocular expert, but I spend most of my spare time in nature taking photographs and enjoying birding. I'm pretty a pretty seriously keen amateur, and as such have a lot of experience with expensive camera equipment and using spotting scopes and binoculars.My current binoculars including the Nikon Monarch 7 10x30, Viking Kestrel 8x32 and Vanguard Spirit XF 10x42 (the only non ED bins I own). Long ago I realised the benefit of ED glass in camera lenses (much reduced chromatic aberrations in high contrast areas). So I was looking to swap my Vanguards for some ED bins, preferably with dielectric prisms - and as I've just spent a vast sum on a new lens was wanting something at the bargain end.To be honest I bought these expecting them to feel a bit rubbish, be uncomfortable at the ocular end and generally to be optically poor - I was thinking I can easily return them if needed.I was pretty stunned from the moment I picked them up. They feel a little heavier than the Spirit XF, but not in a way you'd notice on a long walk. What surprised me was how much better made they feel, really reminded of the build quality of a mid range viking model (the yardstick imo for value for money with good optics). Super comfortable to hold in the hand. So build quality? A big tick!But... the proof of the pudding is are they any good to look through? Again another big tick. Bright, decent field of view and well controlled ca, with a very sharp image possible in the centre. The trade off is edge sharpness, this is where the expensive optics pull away, and no doubt with the most challenging high contrast situations. For the £104 I paid I think they are stunning value for money - even at full price. I would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone looking for decent quality optics on a budget.

My review is of the SV202 10x50 model. Updated in light of more use.I did some careful research of various reviews online and took great note of Neil English’s excellent review of the sv202 range. I decided upon the 10x50 model as I have 8x32 hawke endurance ED as my carry around hiking pair but wanted a pair with more reach for watching Buzzards, Kites and Sparrowhawks on the Mendips and deer and hares in the dusk hours, that were waterproof and more modern than my existing Opticron HR ( made in Japan 1980s).I was concerned when these arrived from a supplier via Amazon Germany in just the cardboard box albeit shrink wrapped. Binoculars were in their padded case but really!! What is the company thinking of. Some instruments will undoubtedly arrive at their destination out of collamination. Thankfully mine are fine.Build quality is really excellent, materials look and feel premium. The metal machined focus wheel and diopter ring in particular raise the whole product a level. The coatings appear red in colour which did not fill me with confidence as I associated this with cheap poor optics (Zeiss notwithstanding!).Upon first raising these to my eyes I was really struck by the bright clear and sharp image, sharper than my old Opticron HR 10x50 porros which were my go to long range binoculars but lacked waterproofing. Very little edge softness although my old Opticons were sharp right to the edge. This is a compromise I am happy to make for the more compact and waterproof form of the SV202 plus it’s much brighter image due to more modern coatings. They also have just over 18 mm of eye relief meaning I can use them with or without my glasses ( adjusting the eyecups accordingly to get a full immersive view. This is important to me as not all binoculars are Varifocal glasses friendly.I had not heard of SVBONY prior to reading online reviews of the sv202 range. I had access to some very high grade optics in previous jobs and for a general purpose/general use binocular that is not too heavy the view through these compares pretty well with anything I have ever looked through. A bold statement but one I am prepared to stand by. In particular low light performance has been outstanding and I have not noticed any Chromatic Aberration even when searching for it… not saying it’s not there.. I just have not seen it. UPDATE After further extensive use I have now identified instances of chromatic aberration (CA) on my walks where at a certain point late on a sunny day with a low sun, there is strong backlight against an overhead electricity cable where birds perch. VS is quite noticeable as a magenta slight outline. Since I noticed it I carried my old Opticron Porto bins with me and even they suffered similar CA but to a lesser extent In the same light. In normal everyday use it is not noticeable. If your intended use is likely to come across strong backlighting such as against the sea late on a sunny day you might want to consider this though you may need to rethink your budget.As wildlife viewing is only one of many pastimes I have, I really cannot justify the price tag of some of the well known high end brands. Also I was not willing to compromise on a single instrument that combined my need for higher magnification and low light use as well as light and compact enough for carrying all day on a hike. That meant 2 separate pairs for my different needs which again affects the overall budget. What I have learned from this experience is that there are emerging companies from China that can produce excellent quality optics and market directly in Europe and the US that are as good or better than established brands (which are themselves mostly made in China).Of course there will always be some optics snobs won’t be interested in these or even give them a try. I have no such qualms SVBONY have produced a quality item.Normally I would always suggest try before you buy and also compare models because everyone’s eyes are different, but this means going to a retailer where they stock a broad range and for many that just isn’t practical and sadly there are less of such retailers around and of course they do sell mostly the established brands. I am very happy therefore to have spent far less than my budget, and therefore extend my thanks to those who on discovering a product which they think is really excellent, are prepared to share a detailed review.